We live in an oligarchy, a country ruled by Bush, Cheney, and their closest associates. By pushing stubbornly forward with his "surge" plan in Iraq, after four years of stalemate, a recognizably deteriorating situation both militarily as well as politically, ignoring the advise of experts, the opposition of Congress, his own generals, and the wishes of a vast majority of the American people, George Bush solidifies his legacy as not only the worst president this country has even suffered but the most dangerous as well.
Every American citizen that voted this irresponsible fool into a second term of office ought to hang their head in shame. Waving the flag and calling anyone who doesn't unquestioningly support him unpatriotic, Bush presses forward, not only gaining no ground against the terrorists in the world but, even Pentagon officials now admit, feeding their ever increasing frenzy by insisting upon a plan to democratize a part of the world that doesn't want it, isn't equipped to manage it, and that has existed over memorable time in an essentially feudal atmosphere.
If we pull out now, says Cheney, then we are capitulating Iraq into the hands of Iran. This rings a bell. Remember our rationale for Vietnam? The so-called Domino Theory, which was basically the identical argument. Not only are we now again mired in a deadly conflict with no forseeable end in sight, it appears we may have attacked the wrong country. Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction; their neighbor Iran does. Saddam was a bully who killed thousands; the President of Iran is a madman who may kill millions.
It is amazing to me that Bill Clinton, whose domestic and international policies have generally been praised, got impeached over a sexual escapade with an intern, while George Bush runs amok at will, destroying America's reputation abroad and creating the largest budget deficits this country has ever had, and everyone is afraid to move against him because of the "national security" overtones of his actions. So much for checks and balances...
11 comments on U.S. Oligarchy
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I remember all too well the Domino theory. I fought to stop in Southeast Asia an eternity ago. This country lost many young people, and I lost many close friends, because of it. (It saddens me even to this day when I think about everything I've seen and done, and all the lives that were lost because of misguided, single-minded (men in power in the sixties and seventies.)
As far as listening to his generals, his experts, and even the majority of the American People, whom he is supposed to represent,) Mr. Bush's motto is "Don't confuse me with the facts; my mind's made up!"
Thanks for this post, Steve. Well done.